Page 44 of A Dangerous Heart
Clare reappeared at Isaac’s elbow, two near-straight sticks in one hand. She pressed them and a white handkerchief into Isaac’s hold.
“It hurts. My leg hurts,” Ben cried. His small movement sent pebbles skittering down the side of the cliff. “I want to go home.”
Isaac forced himself to look at Clare, not Ben. “I’m going to climb down. You keep talking to him. It’ll help to keep him calm.”
Clare’s eyes locked with his. “Be careful.”
Her bossy demand brought on a half smile.
He swung around, allowing his legs to dangle off the edge of the cliff. His work-hardened hands gripped the rough crags as his scuffed boots found footholds within the jagged outcrops below. One boot slipped, sending a small shower of rocks down to the ledge. He hung six feet above the narrow ledge. There were no more foot holds. He’d have to drop and keep his weight from going backward but not scrape his nose off his face.
“It hurts…” Ben’s voice was growing weaker.
“Isaac is almost there. He’s going to help you.” Clare’s confidence in him rang in her words.
He’s going to help you.He was, right now.
But what about after this crisis was over?
Could Isaac really turn the three of them loose, knowing exactly who was hunting them?
These were the times he wished he’d kept a tighter hold on his faith. He wanted to pray, lean on a power greater than his own. Maybe that made him a hypocrite. He didn’t care.
Lord, I guess I’m in Your hands now.
He let go.
His feet landed solidly on the ledge, just missing Ben. And his mug had avoided critical damage, just a stinging scrape on his right cheekbone. A powerful wave of gratefulness rushed through him.
Isaac crouched next to Ben, his back to the drop and the rushing waters below.
Tears dripped from Ben’s wild, fear-filled eyes.
“You came back.”
Isaac felt Ben’s words, a vice gripping his heart. He massaged Ben’s arms and neck. The leg seemed to be the only injury. He carefully pulled up Ben’s pant leg and worked to keep his face from showing his shock. Ben’s knee was swollen. Ugly purplish bruises were spreading fast. Blood seeped from a gash along his shin where the bone threatened to break through the skin.
“Yeah. Imagine my surprise to find my good friend had deserted.”
Isaac lowered himself to a sitting position, his back resting against the rock wall. He pulled Ben into his lap and wrapped his arms around the boy’s trembling body. Or was that him trembling? Scratches, dried blood, and tears covered Ben’s face. No time to clean him up now. Not when the wind was picking up, carrying the scent of rain.
“Clare,” he called. “I’m gonna splint his leg now.”
It was worrisome that Ben was so weak he didn’t protest.
Isaac pulled the sticks Clare had retrieved and her bandanna from his back pocket. He quickly untied his own bandanna from around his neck. He glanced up to see Clare’s worried facepeeking over the cliff. A memory of her stricken expression last night, when the truth had been revealed, flickered in his mind.
It was too late to keep his distance.
He cared.
He blinked the memory away, focused on Ben and figuring how to get the kid to stay calm.
“Why don’t you give your aunt a wave, Ben?” he said gently. “She’s been watching us like a mother hen.”
While Ben was briefly distracted, Isaac pulled Ben’s leg into position.
Ben screamed. His face blanched white.
